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trystan
Student
Alva, Oklahoma
1
Question
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, Is it a good idea to take a gap year so fill out scholarships and work to get money or should i just go to college and get my degree
How should i continue with my senior year, Is it a good idea to take a gap year so fill out scholarships and work to get money or should i just go to college and get my degree and pay off student loans? I am a senior in high school and have not filled out a lot of scholarships and do not know if i have enough to go to college. I am also interested in the neuroscience field. I am also rethinking what college i want to go to.
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2 answers
Wilson Bailey
Electrician
10
Answers
Salt Lake City, Utah
Updated
Wilson’s Answer
It sounds like you are uncertain of a few things so holding off on education is probably a good choice. I went straight to college because that's what all of my friends did and I thought that was the only path to success, then I ended up with a degree in a field I didn't really care about and left after one year. A lot of my colleagues have a similar tale. Only go to college if you are know what you want to study and where. Student loans are not easy to pay off either so working and saving in order to minimize debt sounds like a great idea. You could also use this time to network and talk to professionals in neuroscience to better understand what they do and if you're a good fit for that career.
Michelle M.
Actress
2352
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Michelle’s Answer
You should only take a gap year if you want to and your particular circumstances call for it, but I would otherwise recommend going straight to college after high school graduation. You don't randomly apply for scholarships, you apply for them to be applied for a specific college year so taking a gap year just to complete scholarship applications is not the way it works.
Besides applying for scholarships and grants (apply for very many to increase your chances of getting some) you need to apply for Federal Student Financial Aid and that comes in the form of a grant, work study and student loans. You can refuse the student loans but speak with the financial aid office at the college for instructions on Loan Refusal. The financial Aid Office can guide you after finding out your particular details and circumstances.
Since you are rethinking about what college to attend, you may want to consider starting out at a community college for an Associates Degree in Psychology. Community Colleges are less expensive than four year universities and can help you save on cost for the first two years. Look into Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City and compare tuition rates among other colleges. OCCC has a strong Psychology Department so it's worth reading up about and calling the college for information. If there's another community college that you think you'd like to explore, go to their website and read about it. Register for campus orientations and get a feel for the campus and ask questions of the official representatives of the colleges.
If you are unsure about the way college works and how funding for it is done, you will need to have an in person visit with your high school guidance counselor so the guidance counselor could ask you questions about you and your plans and know what information to provide to you and guide you accurately. Also see what your parents say because they might be your strongest support.
So my advice is to start college in the Fall after high school, definitely speak with your guidance counselor and your parents and the representatives of colleges. I hope this helps and I wish you well !
Besides applying for scholarships and grants (apply for very many to increase your chances of getting some) you need to apply for Federal Student Financial Aid and that comes in the form of a grant, work study and student loans. You can refuse the student loans but speak with the financial aid office at the college for instructions on Loan Refusal. The financial Aid Office can guide you after finding out your particular details and circumstances.
Since you are rethinking about what college to attend, you may want to consider starting out at a community college for an Associates Degree in Psychology. Community Colleges are less expensive than four year universities and can help you save on cost for the first two years. Look into Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City and compare tuition rates among other colleges. OCCC has a strong Psychology Department so it's worth reading up about and calling the college for information. If there's another community college that you think you'd like to explore, go to their website and read about it. Register for campus orientations and get a feel for the campus and ask questions of the official representatives of the colleges.
If you are unsure about the way college works and how funding for it is done, you will need to have an in person visit with your high school guidance counselor so the guidance counselor could ask you questions about you and your plans and know what information to provide to you and guide you accurately. Also see what your parents say because they might be your strongest support.
So my advice is to start college in the Fall after high school, definitely speak with your guidance counselor and your parents and the representatives of colleges. I hope this helps and I wish you well !